Artificial limb



Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2,451,980 y ARTIFICIAL LIMB Starlin B. Samons, Sr., River Rouge, Mich.

Application May 17, 1946, Serial No.6'71,162l

4 Claims.

This invention relates to artificial limbs, and

more particularly to an articial foot and leg together with certain means interconnecting the two to more nearly simulate the human foot and leg. Heretofore in artificial limbs of this type there is usually a pivotal connection between the leg and foot, and in most instances the relative movements have been limited to forward and rearward movements only.

`It is the primary object of this invention to pro- Videan artificial footand leg combination together with interconnecting mean-s between the two members to permit relative universal movements thereof to function similarly to the human ankle.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a' variable spaced relation between the artificial foot and leg members at all times, together with resilient cushioning means interposed therebetween for maintaining said spaced relation.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in connection with the appended drawing in which:

.Figure 1 is an elevational section of the artificial foot and leg, with the latter fragmentarily shown; and

Figure 2 is a similar broken away and sectioned view thereof indicating the relation of the members when in use on the individual.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely one preferable embodiment of the' invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter-set out.

Referring to the drawing, the artificial leg is fragmentarily shown in Figure 1 with a solid preferably wooden block or base portion II and an upright hollow portion I2 forming a part thereof.

It is contemplated that leg II, I2 may be'constructed of plastic, aluminum or any other suitable substance.`

, Said base has a pair of longitudinally arranged slots I3 and I4 which project thereinto from its under surface. The forward portion of base I I is upwardly inclined at I5 and is normally and inoperatively in spaced relation to a similarly inclined portion I6 forming a part of the resilient rubber bumper I'I suitably secured to the forward portion of foot I8. .-.The latter also preferably constructed of vwood is in the shape of a human foot and has formed in its upper surface a pair of longitudinally .arranged slots I9 and 20 which are respectively aligned with corresponding slots I3 and I4.

Substantiallyr verticalv opening 2I in leg I.I terminates centrally within slot I4 therein, and is aligned with corr-esponding substantially ver- 2 tical opening 22 in foot I8, which terminates in slot 20 therein.

. Secondary inclined opening 23 formed within leg base I I centrally terminates in slot I3 therein and is aligned Iwith the correspondinginclined opening 24 in foot I8 which terminates in the slot I9.

It will be noted thatslots I3, Ill, I9 andfv20, as well as openings 2l, 22, 23 and 24 are preferably of circular cross section.

Foot I8 has a ilexible toe portion 25 preferably of rubber which is normally formed by moulding within a suitable `die wherein the rubber when hardened takes the shape ofthe toe element 25. Furthermore a continuous rubber coating 2B is moulded over the entire foot as illustratedfin` Figure 1. j i

A trench or undercut curved slot 21 is formed within the central undersurface portion of the foot extending from the heel thereof and projecting forwardly. vThe slo-t is preferably threequarters of an inch wide and approximately one'- half; inchdeep, and therefore takes up onlya small'portion of the rear undersurface of 4the foot.

A similarly curved anchor plate 28 snugly projectsand is nested within slot 2l and immovably secured therein by the two screws 2S as shown in Figure l, Similarly a second preferably aluminumA plate 381s positioned within the hollow portion I2 of the leg, mounted upon the top of base II and secured thereon by screw 3l.'

Thesquare shoulders 32 of bolts 33 project up through square openings in bottom plate 28 and are thus non-rotatively postioned therein. Said bolts project upwardly and loosely through openings 22 and 24 in foot i8, through corresponding openings in preferably rubber'cylnders 34, and loosely through the openings ZI and 23 in leg `member II. f

The upper ends of bolts 33 project `through openings in'top plate 30 and through corresponding openings formed in rubber cylinders 35 which bear upon plate 30.'

Washers 3'6 are mounted on bolts 33, andare compressively retained in position by nuts 3'I whichv are threaded on the upper ends of said bolts and which' operatively bear upon said washers to cooperatively and compressively engage the top portions of rubber cylinders 35. lThe lower ends of resilient cylinders 34 project into and are seated within slots I9 and 28 in foot I8, while their upper ends project into and bear against the inner end portions of the slots I3 and I li in leg member I I. f

Cylinders 34 are of sufficient length and strength asto maintain asubstantial spaced relation between foot I8 and leg portion II. Said ingly and resiliently support leg member II in cooperatively bears upon the corresponding in` clined surface I6 of bumper I'I.

Bolts 33 being undersize with respect to openings 2I22, 23 and 24, a denite spaced relation exists therebetween permitting universal tipping may be tipped into any angular position relative to Isaid artificial leg.

A rawhide covering 38 is provided for the outer portion of leg I I,-I 2 to give strength thereto. The

2. In an artificial leg, a leg portion, with a pair of longitudinally spaced slots in its under surface, a foot portion with a corresponding pair of slots in its top surface, resilient means interposed between said portions with their respective ends retainingly nested in said slots to maintain a varying spaced relation between said portions,

` securing bolts extending upwardly from the under side of said foot portion, through said resilient means and loosely through corresponding openings in said leg and foot portions interconnecting i the same and permitting universal tipping motion hollow upper portion of leg Il, I2 not shown is constructed and formed to i'lt the human amputated leg.

A horsehide covering-or sock 39 covers the entire foot including slot 21 in its undersurface. Sock 39 projects upwardly, bridges the gap between the lower leg portion II and foot I8 and extends upwardly to the point shown in Figure 1. Thus the space between the leg and foot is closed and sealed from the atmosphere and from outside moisture.

The foot and leg are initially adjusted to each other relatively by tightening nuts 31 on bolts 33 so that cylinders 34 are partially compressed. Likewise'short cylinders 35 are under a moderate compression which is desirable. Cylinders 35 may thus take up the slack on bolt 33 as leg I I moves downwardly towards foot I8 in taking ya step or when the users weight is upon that leg. Cylinders 35 are thus adapted to straighten out and expand eliminating lost motion lfrom bolts 33 relative to said cylinders and to the leg portions.

IDuring walking bolts 33 are relatively movable within their openings 21,221, 23 and 24, axially and transversely permitting relative universal movement between the leg and footto provide almost perfect ankle motion giving the flexible feeling of the human leg when in use.

It is understood that cylinders 34 constantly 'maintain a varying spaced relation between the foot and leg members thereby minimizing the shock of the pavement and its transmission to the artificial leg. In other words a yielding cushion is provided for the artificial leg.

. -Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof.

' I claim:

r1. In an artificial leg, a leg` portion, witha pair of spaced slots in its under surface, a foot portion with'a'corresponding pair of slots in its top surface, resilient cushions interposed between said portions with their ends retainingly nested in said slots to maintain a varyingspaced relation between said portions, and securing bolts extending through said cushions and loosely through corresponding openings in said leg and foot portions interconnecting the same and permitting universal tipping motion of one portion relative to the other.

of one portion relative to the other, one of said 'portions being axially movable relative to said bolts upon relative movement of one of said portions toward the other, and normally compressed resilient means interposed between said movable portion and said bolts to expansively take up the slack therebetween.

3. In an artificial leg, a leg portion with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots in its under surface, a foot portion with corresponding slots in its top surface, rubber cylinders interposed between said portions with their end-s retainingly nested in said slots to maintain a varying spaced relation between said portions, and a plurality of bolts secured to and extending upwardly' from the bottom of said foot portion, through said cylinders and loosely through corresponding coaxial opening-s in said leg and foot portions, being also secured to said leg portion -to adjustably interconnect said portions and to permit universal tipping movement of one portion relative to the other.

4. In an artificial leg, a leg portion with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots in'its under surface, a foot portion with corresponding slots in its top surface, rubber cylinders interposed between said portions with their ends retainingly nested in said slots to maintain a varying spaced relation between said portions, a'plurality of bolts secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom of said foot portion, through said cylinders and loosely through corresponding coaxial openings in said leg and foot portions, being also secured to said leg portions to adjustably interconnect said portions and to permit universal tipping movement of one portion relative to the other, and normally compressed rubber cylinders loosely mounted and secured upon the upper ends of said bolts and bearing against said leg portion and adapted to eXp-ansively take up the slack between said bolts and leg portion upon downward compressive movement of the latter relative to said bolts. Y

STARLIN B. 'SAMONS SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i-lle of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Great Britain Jan. 3l, 1902 

